TitleToxoplasmic encephalitis in a free-ranging Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep from Washington.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2000
AuthorsBaszler, TV, Dubey, JP, Löhr, CV, Foreyt, WJ
JournalJournal of wildlife diseases
Volume36
Issue4
Pagination752-4
Date Published2000 Oct
KeywordsWashington
Abstract

A 4-mo-old free-ranging Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) from the Hells Canyon area (Washington, USA) was diagnosed with encephalitis associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection. The sheep had concurrent pneumonic pasteurellosis and resided in a geographic area with endemic Pasteurella-associated pneumonia and mortality in bighorn sheep. The brain had multifocal necrotizing and nonsuppurative encephalitis with intralesional protozoa. The protozoa were identified as T. gondii by immunohistochemistry. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. gondii infection in a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

DOI10.7589/0090-3558-36.4.752